§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL (for Mr. GORST)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, How long Her Majesty's Government have now held the Chief Langalibalele in captivity; whether in 1875 this Chief was promised by Mr. Brownlee that if he behaved properly he should be sent back to Natal in a few years; whether he is an old broken-down man, whose only desire is to return to Natal before he dies; and, whether Her Majesty's Government can hold out any definite prospect of his being allowed to return to Natal?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, Langalibalele was brought from Natal to Robben Island in August, 1874, and was soon after removed to the place on the mainland iu the Cape Colony where he is now detained. During the short time we have had for inquiry we have been unable to find in the records of the Colonial Office any such promise as that referred to in the second part of the Question. The statement in the third part of the inquiry is a fair description of the case. The Secretary of State, however, has already requested Sir Henry Bulwer to report whether, in his opinion, there is any objection to the idea of Langalibalele's return to Natal being entertained.